Friday, November 28, 2008

Calphalon Contemporary Stainless 8-Piece Cookware Set

Contemporary Stainless is for home chefs who place as much importance on cookware style as they do on performance. The sleek, modern vessels in this line have curvaceous and smooth flared tulip shapes that create a stunning presence while heating on a stovetop or hanging from a pot rack. The brushed steel exteriors are a beautiful complement to professional stainless-steel appliances and are less likely to show baked-on grease or wear than a polished finish. Gracefully curved stainless-steel handles are comfortable to clutch and stay cool on the stovetop for hours at a time. Glass covers are convenient for watching food cook and have curved handles plus wide-banded stainless-steel rims for durability.

This eight-piece cookware set includes a 1-1/2- and 3-1/2-quart covered saucepan, an 8-quart covered stockpot, and an 8- and 10-inch omelet pan. Each piece boasts triple-layer construction with a stainless-steel exterior bonded over a full aluminum core that extends up the sides as well as through the bottom. The set is safe in the oven and can withstand broiler temperatures as well as the use of metal utensils. However, the tempered-glass lids are oven-safe only to 450 degrees F. All Contemporary Stainless is dishwasher-safe for quick cleanup and covered by a lifetime warranty. --Cristina Vaamonde

From the Manufacturer

As the kitchen becomes the social center of more and more American homes, consumers are focusing greater attention on the details of kitchen design. Now, style-conscious home chefs with a taste for all things modern have a new line of cookware to call their own: Calphalon Contemporary Stainless.

Calphalon Contemporary Stainless brings stunning, contemporary design into the home kitchen. Crafted from lustrous, brushed stainless steel and featuring clean lines and curvaceous silhouettes, Calphalon Contemporary Stainless expresses the very soul of modern style. Sweepingly sexy, sculpted handles and subtly domed glass covers lend additional panache to each piece. rice without the fuss. Just add the rice and water, select the menu, and hit the button. That's it.

Professional, Versatile, Comfortable

Calphalon Contemporary Stainless features tri-ply construction--the choice of many professional chefs. A layer of heavy-gauge aluminum, sandwiched between the stainless steel interior and exterior of each pan, provides superb conductivity and even heating throughout the vessel.

Each uniquely shaped Calphalon Contemporary Stainless vessel is designed to accommodate several cooking techniques. Pans are ideal for use on the stovetop, in the oven and even in the broiler. They'll also look fabulous on your table, so you can use them for serving, too.

Calphalon Contemporary Stainless makes it easy to keep an eye on what you're cooking. Sparkling glass covers let you monitor a whole stovetop full of pans at a glance. The cookware also features sculpted long handles, which are as comfortable as they are beautiful. Not only do they feel great in your hand, they're designed to stay cool on the stovetop.

Easy Clean-Up

Calphalon Contemporary Stainless is 100% dishwasher safe for effortless clean-up. (That's a feature you'll appreciate at the end of a long evening of entertaining.) You can also hand wash your pans using a dish cloth and hot sudsy water. For occasional polishing, we recommend Bar Keeper's Friend.

Features

  • Distinctive, Contemporary Design
    Calphalon Contemporary Stainless's sleek curved design makes a striking statement when displayed on pot racks, open shelves or in glass-front cabinets.

  • Versatility
    The Calphalon Contemporary Stainless vessel shapes are suitable for a wide variety of techniques and recipes--and for serving in style, too.

  • Tri-ply Construction
    The choice of many professional chefs, tri-ply construction offers great cooking results on the stove, in the oven, and in the broiler.

  • Full Aluminum Core
    Sandwiched between the stainless steel interior and exterior of each pan, the pan's full aluminum core provides superb conductivity and even heating.

  • Brushed Stainless-Steel Exteriors
    Not only beautiful to look at, these exteriors help hide wear and help to promote incredibly long life for the vessels.

  • Convenience
    The pans feature long handles that stay cool and comfortable on the stovetop, as well as glass lids that are oven-safe to 450 degrees Fahrenheit and that securely fit the vessels and make it easy to keep an eye on what you're cooking.

  • Dishwasher-Safe
    The dishwasher-safe nature of the vessels makes for easy clean-up, which is especially nice when entertaining or when serving large numbers of people.

  • Lifetime Warranty



Monday, November 24, 2008

Calphalon Tri-Ply Copper 10-Piece Cookware Set

This set is a wonderful acquisition or gift for gourmet cooks who are just as concerned with the appearance of their cookware as they are with its performance. The set includes all the necessary pieces for a complete kitchen: 8-inch and 10-inch omelet pans, a 3-quart covered sauté pan, a 6-quart covered saucepot, and 1-1/2- and 2-1/2-quart covered saucepans.

Part of Calphalons premium Tri-Ply Copper line, this brilliant stainless-steel and copper-accented cookware cooks beautifully and looks gorgeous. The pans exterior is crafted of copper--the superior metal for heat conduction--while a heavy-gauge aluminum core runs through its center. The combination of these two metals provides more exact control while cooking and excellent end results. The interior is made of 18/10 stainless steel, which is nonreactive to acidic foods and offers a reflective surface that makes it easier to know when foods are completely cooked. This cookware has Calphalons patented stainless-steel Cool-V handles that stay cool to the touch on the stovetop and stainless-steel lids that fit snugly onto the pan for a tight seal. All Tri-Ply Copper cookware is oven-safe up to 450 degrees F and is covered by a lifetime warranty. --Cristina Vaamonde

What's in the Box
8-, 10-inch omelet pans; 3-quart covered saute pan; 1-1/2-, 2-1/2-, and 6-quart covered saucepots
Customer Review: Passed our crepe test
Very pleased with the appearance of these pans. Bought them in Crate and Barrel, got home eager to test them. Decided the perfect test would be to make crepes in the 10 inch frying pan. After heating the pan, I noticed the immediate formation of exotic colors and starburst design in the copper bottom; visually stunning. After seeding the pan with a thin coat of oil and heating it up to a fairly high temperature, I applied a thin layer of butter just before pouring in mixture. A thin delicate crepe with light brown crispy edges formed almost instantly. To my amazement the crepe broke free from the pan with almost no effort, no sticking. This was the easiest pan I have used to make crepes in 30 years. The handles are somewhat ergonomic, the copper is a delight and the overall design is pleasing. We chose this set over an all-clad set that seemed less ergonomic and we are glad we did.
Customer Review: You'll get what you pay for.
I was excited to get such a beautiful set of copper pans for such a low price, however, I was disappointed. They are lightweight (not much copper), and they don't conduct heat nearly as well as my more expensive copper pan. But what is even more disappointing than the food sticking (especially in the fry pans--I can't make a crepe in these without ripping it) is the horrible yellow color they are turning. While my expensive copper pan has developed a beautiful deep red patina, the Calphalon pans have ugly yellow and brown splotches all over them. I wished I would have just saved my money on the Calphalon set and bought just a couple of well-crafted copper pans instead (Mauviel, Falk, or Bourgeat). I feel like I got cheap copper pans at a cheap price.


Kitchen Essentials® from Calphalon® Stainless Steel 12-pc. Cookware Set